U.S.$7,500 Fraudster Remanded

Mamoud Keita was yesterday remanded at the male correctional center on Pademba Road for allegedly obtaining the sum of $7,500 from one Foday Bockarie Swaray to facilitate his and family members’ movement to the United States of America through the United Nations refugee resettlement programme.

The accused was arraigned at the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1 presided over by Magistrate Komba Kamanda on twenty-two counts of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to Section 32(1)of the Larceny Act 1916, possession of forged bank notes, and uttering counterfeit notes, contrary to Section 8(1)and 6(2) of the Forgery Act 1913.

According to the prosecution, the accused obtained the said amount from the complainant – with intent to defraud – at No.40 Mac-Robert Street in Bo, Kakua chiefdom in the southern province of Sierra Leone, adding that he had falsely represented to facilitate the complainant and his family’s emigration to the United States of America via a fake resettlement programme.

In his testimony, Swaray told the court that on 27 June, 2014, he gave the said amount to the accused for the purpose of facilitating their emigration to the United States.

The witness explained that he and the accused signed an agreement to the effect that the paper works would be completed within one month, although it turned out to be false.

The witness stated that he telephoned the accused after the one month had elapsed, but he did not get a response, and subsequently went to his house, and was given a refund of $1,600 with the promise to pay the balance sum.

“I returned back to Freetown and went to PZ to change the money, but I was disgraced as the money was fake. I straight away went to Bo and reported the matter to the Bo police station. I handed over the fake dollars to the police,” Swaray told the court.

He said the matter was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department in Freetown for further investigation.